Aquatic device



June 16, 1942'. T. R. DRAKE AQUATIC DEVICE Filed July 1. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 752=000P5 2. DEA/116;

I INVENTOR, BY

ATTORNEY.

June 16, 1942.

T. R. DRAKE AQUAT I C DEVI C E 2 She'ets-Shet 2 Filed July 1, 1940 75 500005 1Q ORA/(E.

INVENTOR, BY 3/! ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,286,350 AQUATIC Device Theodore R. Drake, Avalon, Calif.

APnlicationJuly 1, 1940, Serial No. 343,464

16 Claims.

My invention relates in general to means for travel upon the water, and relates in particular to an aquatic vehicle having marked maneuverability and being especially intended as a means for water sport.

It is an object of the invention to provide an aquatic vehicle having front and rear floats longitudinally spaced so as to provide a cockpit or riders seat therebetween, these floats being so formed in cooperative relation to each other and to the associated interconnecting structure as to provide a very sensitive steering action as the result of tilting the aquatic device to one side or the other from an intermediate position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an aquatic device of the above character wherein the front and rear floats are provided with ridge elements so formed that they cooperate in the steering of the aquatic vehicle by tilting the same from upright or intermediate position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aquatic vehicle of the character above set forth wherein the front float has a transversely concave bottom wall and the rear float has a transversely convex bottom wall, the forward portions of said bottom walls being upwardly pitched. By the use of the term upwardly pitched I mean that at the front end of the bottom wall there is a wall portion which slopes upward. In the preferred practice of the invention the upward pitch of the bottom wall is accomplished by curving the bottom wall upward, although it is contemplated that in some practices of the invention the upwardly pitched front portion of the bottom wall may be connected to the remainder of the bottom wall through a more or less sharp bend.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a water sport device of this character wherein the front and rear floats are connected by relatively narrow wall structure so as to provide a space in which the rider may sit with his legs straddling the interconnecting wall structure, whereby he may ride the device in somewhat the manner of a motorcycle, with controls for the motor of the vehicle similar to those of a motorcycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aquatic vehicle of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph having foot rests disposed on opposite sides of the narrow interconnecting structure, and it is a further object to provide guards in association with the foot rests to protect from the force of the water when the board motor vehicle is in movement, the feet and the portions of the leg of the rider positioned below the water line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aquatic vehicle having front and rear floats spaced longitudinally so as to provide a drivers place therebetween, with an engine mounted in the front float and drivinga submerged propeller through an upright shaft member, this propeller acting to pull the aquatic vehicle forwardly. The propeller, being positioned at some distance below the waterline and on the medial plane of the device, is swung to a side when the vehicle is tilted and therefore exerts its propelling force eccentrically and in a manner to assist in turning the vehicle. A feature of the arrangement of parts is that the vehicle may be quickly turned through an angle of so as to be abruptly brought into a reverse position. This abrupt reversal of the direction of the vehicle is accomplished by the cooperative formation of the lower portions of the front and rear floats and the positioning of the propeller intermediate the ends of the vehicle and preferably below the front float.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aquatic vehicle capable of attainin relatively high speed, which may employ a standard outdrive as the propelling means thereof, which the rider may drive in the general manner of operating a motorcycle and which has an automatic control ot shut off the motor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, drawn to reduced scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on a plane represented by the line 3-3-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partly sectioned view of one of the control handles of the device, showing the application of a torque spring to automatically turn off the control when the hand of the rider is released from the grip.

Fig. '6 is a side view of an alternative form of the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I provide front and rear pontoons or floats l0 and l I which are spaced aparton a medial plane A--A and. are preferably elongated in the direction of the plane A-A. The floats l and l are spaced at such distance as to provide between them a space 12 of sufficient size to accommodate a rider l3.

Contiguous to the front end of the rear float H a riders seat is provided. This riders seat, as indicated at M, is preferably formed in the front end of the rear float H, and the same may be suitably padded with sponge rubber. The floats l8 and H are connected by a relatively narrow wall l5 which coincides with the medial plane AA. The intermediate portion of the wall l5 bulges downward as indicated at IS in Fig. l and on the lower edge thereof may have a body of metal to serve as a ballast [1, although the shape of the float is such that a large ballast will not be required.

On opposite sides of the wall l5 foot rests l8 are provided, these foot rests l6 comprising shelves which extend outwardly from the sides of the wall If: and slope upwardly in forward direction as shown so that the action of the lower surfaces thereof will be to provide a slight lifting effect when the aquatic vehicle is travelling forward through the water. The rider l3 sits in the seat 14 with his legs i9 in straddling relation to the wall [5 so that his feet may engage the upper surfaces of the foot rests l8. Guards 20, preferably made from rubberized fabric, are extended up from the foot rests l8, to guard the feet and lower legs of the rider from the force of the water when the aquatic vehicle is travelling forward at relatively high speed.

Propelling means for the vehicle is a propeller 2| which is preferably disposed between the front and rear ends of the vehicle, and preferably below the front float ID as shown. This propeller 2| is an operative part of a standard type of outboard motor 22 mounted in the front float l0 so that the shaft tube 23 thereof projects downward from the bottom 24 of the front float l8 so as to support the propeller gear casing 25 thereof in a position well below the water line WW. When the outboard motor 22 is installed the gear casing 25 is rotated through an angle of 180 on the shaft tube 23.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the front float Ill has a pair of ridges 26 extending in planes parallel to the medial plane A-A, these ridges 26 being pitched upward at their forward ends as indicated at 21. The ridges 26 are preferably formed in a continuous curve as seen in Fig. 1. The ridges 26 are preferably formed by edge corners resulting from the meeting of the side walls 28 of the float I!) With the bottom Wall 24 as shown in Fig. 3. Likewise, the bottom wall 24 is preferably made concave in transverse direction so that the side walls 28 meet the edge portions of the bottom wall 24 at acute angles. When the medial plane AA is maintained vertical the movement of the Vehicle will be straight ahead, assuming that a front float Ill is aligned with the rear float H, but by leaning to one side so as to tilt the Vehicle, the driver 13 may cause the vehicle to turn. As will be perceived from Fig. 3, a tilting of the front float ID will cause one ridge 26 to sink deeper into the water and will cause the other ridge to rise. The lowered ridge, due to its upward pitch or curvature, will cause the front float to turn off from a straight direction of travel, toward the side which has been lowered as the result of the tilting or leaning of the vehicle.

Additional steering effect by tilting of the vehicle to one side is accomplished by making the bottom wall 30 of the rear float ll convex and likewise with the forward portion 3| thereof pitched upward as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the rear float II is tilted to one side, one of the corner edges 32 will be raised so that as lateral movement of the rear float H occurs the raised corner will be positioned above the surface of the water and the rear float will be free to slide or skid laterally. When the vehicle is propelled forwardly at reasonably high velocity a quick tilt to the side, while at the same time the rider I3 leans well over so as to shift the center of gravity of his weight to the side, will result in a sudden lateral deflection of the front float l0 and a skidding of the rear float in a semi-circle around the front float so as to reverse the direction of the vehicle within a very short space.

To provide for steering of the vehicle when it is moving at slow speed, means are provided whereby relative rotation of the floats l0 and H on an upright axis may be obtained. This is carried out preferably by connecting the front float ID to the forward portion of the wall l5 so that it may rotate on the upright axis of the shaft tube 23, and to control this rotation handle bars 33 are extended rearward from the front float Ill. For connection of the front float II] to the front end of the wall [5, I have shown circular bands or bearings 34 secured to the front ends of the wall l5 and enclosing portions of the shaft tube 23 of the outboard motor 22. A fin 35 is projected downward from the bottom wall 24 of the front float l0 ahead of the tube 23. A torque spring 36 is placed around the tube 23 between the upper and lower bearing members 34. One end of this spring 36, such as the upper end thereof is connected to a member 34, and the other, or lower end of the spring 36 is connected to the tube 25, so that the spring 36 may exert a constant torque tending to rotate the tube 23 and the front float in to one side so that if the handle bars 33 are released, the front float II] will be turned to one side by the spring 36 and the vehicle will travel in a circle. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, I may provide a torque spring 31 within one of the grips 38 of a handle bar 33 of the device, this spring 31 tending to rotate the grip 38 toward off position whereby the speed of operation of the motor 22 will be either reduced to a very slow speed or entirely shut off should the grip 38 be released, as for example, due to the rider being thrown off the vehicle as the result of the unskillful maneuvering of the vehicle. I have shown the grip 38 connected through a bar 39 with a flexible shaft 40 which extends through the associated handle bar 33 to a control of the motor 22, preferably the carburetor. By rotation of the grip 38 against the returning action of the spring 31 the rider may control the speed of the engine.

To supplement the tube 23 and the bearing means 34 in the connection of the front float ID to the wall 15, the rear end of the float III is provided with an arcuate rib 4| to engage a groove 42 in the lower part of a transverse wall 43 shpported by the wall l5 adjacent the rear face 44 of the front float H].

In the alternative form of my invention shown in Fig. 6, I indicate that variations may be made in the practice of the invention, for example, the spacing of front and rear floats l0 and II may be such that the rider [3 may be seated between these floats with all'portions of his body above the water line. In this form of the invention foot rests-45- are shown disposed above the bottom of the front float l.

I claim as my-invention:

1. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float and a rear float spaced apart soas to provide a riders space between the same; said rear float having formed in the front end thereof a seat to receive the buttocks of the rider; a narrow vertically disposed connecting member extending from said rear float to said front float; foot rests for the feet of the rider; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float and beyond the reach of the feet of the rider occupying said seat.

2. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of z a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same; a narrow vertical wallextending from said front float to said rear float and projecting down so as to form a keel between said floats; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float, the bottom of said front float being characterized by concavity in transverse direction and the bottom of said rear float being characterized by convexity in transverse direction, whereby tilting of the aquatic vehicle to one side will cause the same to turn from a straight ahead course of travel.

3. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same; means connecting said floats together in said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an upright axis for steering purposes; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float and supported by a structure connected to said front float so as to swing therewith as said front float swings on said axis, whereby the direction in which said propeller applies its propelling force will change with relation to said rear float as said front float swings relative to said rear float.

l. In an aquatic vehicle of the character desc ed, the combination of: a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same; means connecting said floats together inv said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an uprightaxis for steering purposes and supported by a structure connected to said front float so as to swing therewith as said front float swings on said axis, whereby the direction in which said propeller applies its propelling force will change with relation to said rear float as said front float swings relative to said rear float; power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float; and ridge elements along the lower part of said front float so formed as to cause a turning of the vehicle when it is tilted to one side.

5. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same; means connecting said floats together in said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an upright axis for steering purposes; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float and supported by a structure connected to said,

front float so as: toswing therewith as said front float swings on said axis, whereby the direction in which said propeller applies its propelling force will change with relation tosaid. rear float as said front floatswings' relativeto said rear float,..the bottom of said front float being characterized by concavity in transverse direction and the bottom of said rear. float being characterized by convexity intransverse direction, whereby tilting of the aquatic vehicle to one side will cause thesame. to turn fromastraight ahead course of travel.

6. In an aquatic vehicle of the character'described, the combination of: a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the-same; means connecting said floats together in said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an upright axis for steering purposes; means to yieldably exert a force to produce said relative rotation so that when the vehicle is running without control it will tend to travel in a circle so as to have a tendency to return to its starting point; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising'a propeller disposed below said front float.

7. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space betweenthe same; means connecting said floats together in said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an upright axis for steering purposes; means to yieldably exert a force to produce said relative rotation so that when the vehicle is running without control it will tend to travel in a circle so as to have a tendency to return to its starting point; and power means carried by said front float, said power means comprising a propeller disposed below said front float, the bottom of said front float being characterized by concavity in transverse direction and the bottom of said rear floatbeing characterized by convexity intransverse direction, whereby tilting of the aquatic vehicle to one side will cause the same to turn from a straight ahead course of travel.

8. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same, said rear float having formed in the front end thereof a seat to receive the buttocks of the rider; a narrow vertically disposed connecting member extending from said rear float to said front float; foot rests for the feet of the rider; power means carried by said vehicle and comprising a submerged propeller; and ridge elements along the lower part of said front float so formed as to cause a turning of the vehicle when it is tilted to one side.

9. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same, said rear float having formed in the front end thereof a seat to receive the buttocks of the rider; a narrow vertically disposed connecting member extending from said rear float to said front float; foot rests for the feet of the rider; and power means carried by said vehicle and comprising a submerged propeller, the bottom of said front float being characterized by concavity in transverse direction and the bottom of said rear float being characterized by convexity in transverse direction, whereby tilting of the aquatic vehicle to one side will cause the same to turn fro ma straight course of travel.

10. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described the combination of: a front float and a rear float spaced apart so as to provide a riders space between the same; means connecting said floats together in said spaced relation and so that they will have relative rotation on an upright axis for steering purposes and supported by a structure connected to said front float so as to swing therewith as said front float swings on said axis, whereby the direction in which said propeller applies its propelling force will change with relation to said rear float as said front float swings relative to said rear float; and power means carried by said vehicle and comprising a submerged propeller.

11. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float and a rear float disposed on a vertical medial plane in leading and following relation; a relatively thin wall structure disposed on said medial plane and connecting said floats in spaced relation, said wall structure having hinged connection with at least one of said floats; means forming a seat for a rider in the space between said floats; and propelling means for the vehicle comprising an engine and a submerged propeller driven thereby.

12, In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float and a rear float disposed on a vertical medial plane in leading and following relation; a relatively thin wall structure disposed on said medial plane and connecting said floats in spaced relation, I

said wall structure having hinged connection with at least one of said floats; means forming a seat at th rear of said space between said floats whereby the rider may be seated in substantially upright position with his legs straddling this wall structure; foot rests on opposite sides of said wall structure; and propelling means for the vehicle comprising an engine and a submerged propeller driven thereby.

13. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float and a rear float disposed on a vertical medial plane in leading and following relation; a relatively thin wall structure disposed on said medial plane and connecting said floats in spaced relation; means forming a seat at the rear of said space between said floats whereby the rider may be seated in substantially upright position with his legs straddling this wall structure; foot rests ahead of said seat and on opposite sides of said wall structure; guard members extending upward from said foot rests; and propelling means for the vehicle.

14. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float having a transversely concave bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a rear float having a transversely convex bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a relatively narrow vertical medial structure connecting said floats in spaced relation, there being means forming a riders seat in the space between said floats, and the front end of said medial connecting structure being hingedly connected to said front float to permit a steering movement of said front float; a relatively slender member extending down from said front float, said member being fixed to said front float so as to swing therewith; a propeller at the lower end of said member which swings with said front float as said front float is swung relative to said medial connecting structure; and power means carried by said front float and having connection with said propeller to drive the same.

15. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of a front float having a transversely concave bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a rear float having a transversely convex bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a relatively narrow medial structure connecting said floats in spaced relation, there being means forming a riders seat in the space between said floats, and the front end of said medial connecting structure being hingedl connected to said front float to permit a steering movement of said front float; a relatively slender member fixed to and extending down from said front float; a propeller at the lower end of said member; foot rests disposed on opposite sides of said medial structure below th plane of said floats; and power means carried by said front float and having connection with said propeller to drive the same.

16. In an aquatic vehicle of the character described, the combination of: a front float having a transversely concave bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a rear float having a transversely convex bottom wall which pitches upward at its forward end; a relatively narrow medial structure connecting said floats in spaced relation, there being means forming a riders seat in the space between said floats, and the front end of said medial connecting structure being hingedly connected to said front float to permit a steering movement of said front float; a relatively slender member fixed to and extending down from said front float; a propeller at the lower end of said member; foot rests disposed on opposite sides of said medial structure below the plane of said floats; guard members of flexible material extending upward from said foot rests to above the water line of the vehicle; and power means carried by said front float and having connection with said propeller to drive the same.

THEODORE R. DRAKE. 

